Replacement heart valve systems and methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for implanting a helical anchor are disclosed. A method comprises, proximate a native heart valve, positioning a helical anchor arranged inside a shaft in a delivery configuration and a distal end of the shaft at a first position relative to one another such that the distal end of the shaft has a first radius of curvature, wherein the helical anchor has a coiled configuration comprising a plurality of turns after being delivered at the native heart valve. The method further comprises moving the helical anchor and the distal end of the shaft into a second position relative to one another such that the shaft has a second radius of curvature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 proximate a native heart valve, positioning a helical anchor arranged inside a shaft in a delivery configuration and a distal end of the shaft at a first position relative to one another such that the distal end of the shaft has a first radius of curvature, wherein the helical anchor has a coiled configuration comprising a plurality of turns after being delivered at the native heart valve; and   moving the helical anchor and the distal end of the shaft into a second position relative to one another such that the shaft has a second radius of curvature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coiled configuration of the helical anchor is configured to support a heart valve prosthesis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving the helical anchor and the distal end of the shaft into the second position includes moving the helical anchor and the distal end of the shaft axially relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second radius of curvature is smaller than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing chordae and leaflets of the native heart valve with the helical anchor while the distal end of the shaft has the first radius of curvature and/or the second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the helical anchor comprises an internal wire and an external covering. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the external covering is a fabric material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the helical anchor further comprises a foam layer between the internal wire coil and the external covering. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the helical anchor comprises a gap formed by a coil portion of the helical anchor that connects and extends between at least one pair of adjacent turns of the plurality of turns of the helical anchor in a direction that is non-parallel to the at least one pair of adjacent turns, the coil portion having a first pitch that is greater than a second pitch of the at least one pair of adjacent turns. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a starting turn of the plurality of turns that defines a distal end of the helical anchor has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of adjacent turns of the plurality of turns. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 proximate a native heart valve, positioning a helical anchor arranged inside a shaft in a delivery configuration into a first position relative to a distal end of the shaft such that the distal end of the shaft has a first radius of curvature, wherein the helical anchor has a coiled configuration comprising a plurality of turns after being delivered at the native heart valve; and   advancing the helical anchor into a second position relative to the distal end of the shaft such that the distal end of the shaft has a second radius of curvature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the coiled configuration of the helical anchor is configured to support a heart valve prosthesis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the advancing the helical anchor includes moving the helical anchor axially within the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the helical anchor comprises a coil portion spacing apart, in an axial direction, an upper turn of the plurality of turns and a plurality of lower turns of the plurality of turns and extending between the upper turn and the plurality of lower turns in a direction that is non-parallel to a radial direction, wherein a first pitch of the coil portion is greater than a second pitch of the upper turn and the plurality of lower turns. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a lowermost turn of the plurality of turns that defines a distal end of the helical anchor has a radius of curvature than is greater than a radius of curvature of adjacent turns of the plurality of turns. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 proximate a native heart valve, positioning a helical anchor arranged inside a shaft in a delivery configuration and a distal end of the shaft at a first position relative to one another such that the distal end of the shaft has a first radius of curvature, wherein the helical anchor has a coiled configuration comprising a plurality of turns after being delivered at the native heart valve; and   advancing the distal end of the shaft into a second position relative to the helical anchor so that the shaft has a second radius of curvature, wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising capturing chordae and leaflets of the native heart valve with the helical anchor while the distal end of the shaft has the first radius of curvature and/or the second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the shaft and the helical anchor are axially movable relative to one another, and further comprising pushing the helical anchor out of the distal end of the shaft and implanting the helical anchor with turns of the plurality of turns above and below an annulus of the native heart valve.